The 2009 Illawarra Women in Business Awards were held on Friday 27 March at the Lagoon Seafood Restaurant with 160 Illawarra business women in attendance.
Winner of the Illawarra ITeC 2009 Young Business Women:
Angela Saville of Savvy Fitness
Finalist: Jessica Saad, University of Wollongong
Highly recommended: Jonni Nicolaou, Lagoon Seafood Restaurant Jodi Pyke, Finance Control
Winner of the Illawarra Business Chamber 2009 Woman of the Year:
Katrina Rowlands of Mortgage Success
Finalist: Miranda Bond, Inika Mineral Cosmetics
Highly Recommended: Liz Anderson of Club 46 Angela Johnson of Evanscorp
I would like to personally congratulate each of the winners.
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Business Growth Workshops
We recently held two separate Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Business Growth Workshops in Wollongong and Nowra. The workshops were a resounding success and attracted over 40 small business owners/operators in the TCF industry.
The workshops covered the following topics :
• Growing Your Fashion Business
• Pricing and Costing
• Debt Collection and Credit
• TCF Global – Sourcing Off Shore Manufactures
• TCF NSW and Design edge Online Shops and Networking Groups
From this half-day workshop it was agreed that we would start a TCF Industry Based Networking group which will meet on a bi-monthly basis. If you would like to be involved in this new networking group, please contact either Virginia in Wollongong or Lynnette in Nowra on 1300 065 058.
Looking for new manufacturers, raw materials or suppliers?
Are you are a designer, importer, retailer, wholesaler, agent, chain store, department store or sourcing agent looking for new business opportunities?
TCFWA / TCF Australia is leading a Buying Mission to Guangzhou, China
May 3-7, 2009.
TCFWA is organising an exhibitor matching service for TCFWA / TCF Australia Buying Mission participants. If you are interested in attending reply ASAP to carol.hanlon@tcfwa.com with a clear list of the type of items or services you are looking to source or contacts you are wishing to make whilst visiting Guangzhou.
Jinhan Fair: Poly World Trade Centre Expo, Guangzhou, China
(FYI - this event is being held concurrently as Canton Fair, one of the world’s largest exhibitions)
Expected - 600 exhibition booths (also including exhibitors from HK, Thailand and India)
Expected - 15,000 visitors
Exhibition Showcases include:
Apparel: Fashion Wear, Casual Wear, Sports Wear, Children’s Wear, Underwear, Swimwear, Functional Wear
Fashion Accessories: Jewellery, Belt and Accessory, Sunglasses, Handbag and Clutch Bag, Hat, Gloves, Socks, Scarf, Tie, Hair Accessory
Home Textiles: Bedroom Textiles, Bathroom Textiles, Kitchen Textiles, Dining Room, Textiles, Living Room Textiles
Fabrics: Knitting, Woven Fabrics, Mixture Fabrics, Linen, Cotton Fabrics, Bonded Fabrics
Accessories: Button, Zipper, Lace, Buckles
Also includes:
Fashion Shows: 6 rounds from May 4 to May 6
Buyers Party: Two parties on May 4 and May 6 with surprises
Buyers Lounge: Free coffee, beverage, snacks, bread and fruits
Free Internet: Easy and free internet connection
Free Shuttle Bus: Jinhan Fair to/from selected hotel and main Areas in Pazhou
Further Fair info: www.jinhanfair.com
Please advise me ASAP if you are planning to attend and/or your sourcing requirements for TCFWA/ TCF Australia Exhibitor Matching.
TCFWA will also be providing a list of the various wholesale markets to our Buying Mission participants in Guangzhou and will organise a translator and/or guide available if you require (at your own cost).
IBC BUSINESS EXPO: "Illawarra On Show" 2009
The third IBC Business Expo – “Illawarra on Show” 2009 - will be held on Wednesday 27 May 2009 at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
In just two short years, the expo has become the largest “business to business” exhibition inregional NSW. This year’s program will again feature a series of exciting and informative events which will bring together some of the region’s most innovative businesses and speakers.
The highly successful Expo Business Luncheon will again feature a leading business speaker and provide a great opportunity for local business people to gain insight into industry trends and directions.
The Illawarra Business Chamber will also take advantage of the event and host a “Super Business After Hours” on the night where five of our members in the small business category will be able to showcase their business.
Over a third of the booths have already been sold!
Check out the IBC website www.illawarrabusiness.com or speak to Louise Dwyer on 4229 4722 to enquire about attending and membership.
Small Business Basics
Are you thinking of starting a small business but confused about where to start?
The Small Business Basics information session outlines the steps that you need to take to properly research your business idea and establish your business. These workshops are free to attend and run every fortnight.
Time: 12noon to 1.30pm
Date: Tuesday 28 April 2009
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Illawarra ITeC on 1300 650 058
Free Advice on Patents, Trade Marks, Designs and Copyright
Do you have a new invention? Do you need assistance with how to register a patent, trade mark, design or need information about copyright?
Then make an appointment to see one of our business advisers to discuss the above through the Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service. The Innovation Advisory Service is a FREE program and is supported through funding from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.
We also have the services of an Intellectual Property Attorney who provides free advice at our offices once a month. Appointments are now being made for:
Time: Half hour appointments
Date: Friday 1 May 2009, Illawarra ITeC Wollongong
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Call 1300 650 058 to make an appointment
Small Business Marketing Workshop
It is not enough to just have a fantastic product or service, you also need to be able to understand how to market your product or service to potential customers and clients. This is even more important in this current economic climate.
How do you differentiate from your competitors? What is unique about your business?
This two-hour workshop will help you understand the different aspects of marketing, help you understand how your product / service fits into the whole market and how you can market your business more effectively.
We will discuss:
• Conducting Market Research
• Who is Your Target Market / Competitors
• The Four Ps of Marketing
• SWOT Analysis
• Requirements of Developing a Marketing Plan
Time: 9.30am to 12noon
Date: Friday 1 May 2009
Cost: $40.00 – light Refreshments included
Basic Bookkeeping Workshop
It is very important for any small business owner to know how to keep sound financial records but more importantly understand how to use those financial reports to make informed decisions.
This workshop will provide an overview of record keeping responsibilities and provides practical exercises in the tasks required to manage a business through record keeping. You will develop an understanding of financial control and the importance of cash flow and how to complete petty cash, cash payments, cash receipts, daily bank balances and bank reconciliations.
Time: 9.00am to 12 noon
Date: Thursday 7 May 2009
Cost: $45.00 per person – light refreshments provided
Protecting your brand – Free Seminar
If you are already in business, or looking to start your own enterprise in the near future, then it is vital that you consider how to develop and/or protect one of your key business assets - your brand. Careful brand management through the use of appropriate intellectual property rights (IP) can significantly increase the awareness of your products or services in the public domain leading to the increased growth of your business.
At this free seminar, you will hear information from:
• Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service – An outline of the free and confidential services available
• IP Specialist William Hird of Davies Collison Cave - Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys on the various forms of intellectual property rights that are available for Australian businesses and how they can be best used to increase the value of your brand.
• IP Australia – the Australian Government agency responsible for administering patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights.
• Two local case studies –The Pros and Cons and My Individual Journey
• The University of Wollongong – The Commercialisation Checklist
• You will also be able to book a free private consultation after the seminar
The seminar will help you to:
• Identify your Intellectual Property Rights
• Register those rights, i.e. Patents, Designs and Trade Marks
• Use your Intellectual Property to develop and protect your brand
• Maintain and grow your brand in the Public domain
• Gain insight from other successful Australian brands
• Better understand the services available
You may also like to book in for a free private meeting with a patent attorney after the presentation to discuss your idea further.
Time: 9.15 for 9.30am to 12.30pm (followed by individual appointment)
Date: Tuesday 19 May 2009
Venue: iC Function Centre, Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong
Cost: FREE – light refreshments served
RSVP: To reserve a place at this seminar and book your individual appointment,
please contact Illawarra ITeC on Ph: 4223 3100.
Free Business Advisory Services
If this current economic situation is really getting you down and you find that you are struggling and really need some business advice – call Illawarra ITeC and make an appointment to see one of our Business Advisers.
Illawarra ITeC has five Small Business Programs to either:
- Help you get started in your business venture; or
- Further develop your business skills and improve your business.
All programs provide free and confidential business advice. We have offices based in Wollongong, Nowra and Mittagong - but we are also a mobile service and can come to you.:
• Illawarra Business Advisory Service (IBAS)
• Business Enterprise Centre (BEC)
• New Enterprise Development Scheme (NEIS)
• Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service (IIAS)
• Aboriginal Enterprise Development Officer (ADEO) Program
Call Illawarra ITeC today on 1300 065 058
Serviced Offices Available
Are you looking for serviced offices in the CBD of Wollongong for a reasonable cost?
Illawarra ITeC has fully serviced office space available now
No LEASE – Monthly Rental Agreement only.
Run your business from establish offices in a prime location or utilise Illawarra ITeC’s virtual office facility.
Benefits include:
• Short term / Long term availability
• FULLY services offices
• Reception/Mailing/Cleaning
• Your phone answered in your business name
• Business name signage
Additional services available:
• Broadband Internet Access
• Undercover Parking available
• Training/Casual Interview Rooms for hire
Premises located at:
1/336 Keira Street (Cnr Keira and West Streets) Wollongong NSW 2500.
Contact Sarah on (02) 4223 3100 to arrange an inspection and discuss rates.
If you require further information please don’t hesitate to contact me on 4223 3100 or 1300 650 058.
Do you receive our weekly Illawarra ITeC Small Business News Newsletter? If not, email Virginia today on ibec@illawarraitec.com.au and we will automatically send you a copy.
This is only a brief outline of the types of small business advice and assistance that we can offer. Want to know more? Remember I am a FREE service and can assist you in developing your business in many ways. Call me today on 4223 3100 or check out our website at www.illawarraitec.com.au
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